Business Relief Package Advances, RRF Priority Letter

Please see the below resources and information for your business - updated as of 6:15 p.m. on Monday, June 14.

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Letter to SBA: Find Funding for RRF Priority Applicants, Work with Congress to Replenish RRF

Earlier today, the National Restaurant Association submitted a letter to the Small Business Administration (SBA) regarding RRF awards that were rescinded. Click here to review the letter.

The letter has two messages. First, SBA should do everything in its power to look at existing recovery dollars and determine a way to fund these applicants. Second, this issue underscores the importance of Congress appropriating additional RRF money to ensure that all qualified applicants can receive funding.

The IRA continues to work with the National Restaurant Association and state restaurant associations around the country to build necessary support for replenishing RRF on both sides of the aisle.

If you have not already done so, please add your name onto our call for more RRF funding, and share with your colleagues in the industry.

Chicago Business Relief Package Including Faster Permits, Delivery Fee Cap, Hospitality Grants Advances

Earlier today, the Committee on License and Consumer Protection voted 15-3 to advance the Chi Biz Strong relief package introduced by Mayor Lightfoot. The package now heads to the full City Council, which is expected to vote on the proposal next Wednesday.

The initial proposal would end the sale of alcohol from grocery and liquor stores at 10:00 p.m., but was updated to a midnight cutoff. The amended ordinance also make permanent the current expedited process for obtaining a public way use permit - including sidewalk cafe permits - by removing the ordinance requirement for each license.

IRA President & CEO Sam Toia testified in committee in support of the package.

“The restaurant and hospitality industry in Chicago has been decimated by the pandemic over the last 16 months," said Toia. “Approving this package will immediately help small businesses reopen and recover. Targeted grants, streamlined permits and licensing allowing A-frame signage, assuring reasonable delivery fees and more will be hugely beneficial to neighborhood restaurants."

Read more from Block Club Chicago and Crain's Chicago Business.

Webinar on Marketing Tips from Google and Your Tourism & Beverage Brand Partners

Join the IRA and panelists from Google, Kimpton Gray Hotel, and Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits of Illinois on Thursday, June 24 at 10:00 a.m. for a webinar providing online and in-house ideas for leveraging tools and partners to market your business. Attendees will hear tips and ideas to use this summer to promote your business and drive customer traffic.

This webinar is being provided in partnership with Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and the Cook County Community Recovery Initiative.

Click here to register.

Early Bird for IRA Golf Classic Ends Soon

The Early Bird rate for the IRA Annual Golf Classic at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club ends Thursday, July 1.

Sign up now to join us Wednesday, August 4 for a full day including 18 holes of golf, breakfast, lunch, dinner reception and a silent auction & raffle.

Contact Clare Boyce with any questions about the event or sponsorship opportunities.